Combined step-ladder, stair-ladder, and extension-ladder.



W. S SHIELDS. COMBINED STEP-LADDER, STAIR LADDER, AND EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED O0T.20. 1909.

. Pafientetl Aug. 16, 1910.

\ Witnesses.- Inventor- Qnr William 500% Sl'filii- Mfiorney UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SCOTT SHIELDS OE BEVERLY, NEW JERSEY.

CDMBINED STEP-LADDER, STAIR LADDER, AND EXTENSION-LADDER.

Specification, of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Application filed October 20, 1909. Serial No. 523,564.

, step-ladders, and particularly to a combined after use.

step-ladder, stair-ladder and extension ladder. I

The objects of the invention are to provide a step-ladder with a ladderextension which shall also serve as the prop for the step por-- tion,and to so combine these parts that they may be easily and readilyshifted with respect to each other and that the combining andcooperating parts shall be. as few and simple as possible, wit-h dueregard to safety of user and expedition in handling.

The invention therefore consists in the structure of parts and theircombination for the. specified purpose, substantially as. hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which jform a part of this specification,Figure 1 representsthe combined device in side elevation ready forshipping or stowing away;

Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical transversesection taken in the plane indicated by the line 33, Fig. 2; Fig.4represents, in side elevation, the device displayed as a step-ladder;Fig. 5 is a side elevation. of the device displayedas a stair-la andFig. 6 shows in plan the platform when the combined parts are displayedas a step-ladder as in Fig. 4.-

The step portion of the combination is indicated at 10-;with-its' treadsat 11 and platform at 12. ,'lllie?ladd'er extension is indicated at13with'i s rungs at 14 and its platformat 15.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these parts are shown ready for shipping or forputting away A rod is secured at its ends to part 10 and is formed intoa loop as at 16 about part 13. It serves as a guide when the latter isused as a ladder extension and as .a hinge therefor'when said extensionis used as the prop for the stepdadder. Beneath the platform 15, aresecured stops as 17 which project over the loop 16, and to,

. 13 and together with said stays form a second guide for the ladderextension. -.Tl1ese stays are referabl connected b an enlar ed! eye. tothe lower angle of the plate 20 and are adapted to pass, by their hookedends, through slots at the upper angles of said plate. T he'enlargedeyes permit of this insertionand withdrawal of said hooks from saidslots and, when the hooks are in the slots, they turn at right anglesthereto and so retain said stays in place as guides, as seen in Figs. 1and 2. For the sake of clearness in illustration, the hook stays areomitted from Fig. 3.

When the parts 10 and 13 are displayed in step-ladder form, Fig. 4:, thehook stays, unshipped from their keepersplates 20, have their free endshooked into staples 21 on the side rails of art 13. Other staples as 22may be located on. part 13 to receive said hooks when the said parts aredisplayed for use on stairs, Fig. 5. In this form, the

inner edge of the platform 12 engages a rung between the side rails ofthe part 13 and the inner edge of the platform 15 is shaped to fit underthat of platform 12 and so assists in forming a stable hinge andcontinuon?l platform for the step-ladder, Fig. 4 an In using the deviceas a ladder, the extension portion 13 is simply pushed up from theposition seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, to the desired height, through theguides 16 and 19, the pivoted dogs 24 falling in under the rungs 14 inthe usual way as the rungs pass them.

Obviously in using the device as a stairladder, the ladder extension, orprop,-m'ay be extended a sufficient number of rungs to adapt the deviceto stairs of any pitch. The stair-ladder lends itself readily to the useof decorators and others Working in a stairway, and the fact that theprop is a ladder makes it especially convenient, since the device mayalso be mounted from-the up or 5 short side. i v

Suitable angle braces may be added under one or more or all of the stepsor treads of the step portion and under the platform as well. Thepresence of such braces is indicated at 25, Figs. 2 and 3.

The invention claimed is 1. In a combination of ladders, a step portionand a ladder extension having a separable'hinge connection at theirupper ends, lateral guide plates, and hook stays cooperating with saidguide plates and both plates and hooks so constructed and connected thatthey securely brace the parts of the device when displayed as astep-ladder or as a stair-ladder and serve as a guide for thelongitudinal adjustment of the extension portion when the device isdisplayed as an extension. ladder.

2 In a combination .of ladders, a step portion and a ladder extension, aloop connected to the upper end of the former and embracing the latter,a spring hook attached ,tl re latter and engagingthe loop, platessecured to the sides of the step portion and overlappingthe side railsof the ladder extension, and hook stays connected to said plates. by oneend and adapted, each, to engage the opposite plate with its free end.

3. In a combination of ladders, a step portion and a ladder extensionhaving a separable hinge connection at their upper ends, said hingebeing formed by projecting the platform of the step portion between therails of the ladder portion and forming the edge of said platform to fitthe edge .of the platform on the ladder extension and by a loop attachedto the step portion and embracing the ladder extension, a spring catchholding the said parts in readiness for coact-ion when the device is tobe displayed as a step-ladder.

4;. In a combination of ladders, a step i ortion, a ladder extension,means for hol ing the one in longitudinal adjustment with the other, thestep portion having its platform constructed to engage the successiverungs of the ladder extension, and\stays for bracing the parts whenadjusted.

5. In a combination of ladders, a step portion and a ladderextensionihaving a separable hinge connection at their upper ends,portions of said hinge serving as guides for the adjustment of one partof the device upon the other, the step portion being constructed at' itsupper end for supporting engagement 'th the rungs of the ladderextension V119,; eby the device may be used upon flights of stairs ofdifferent pitch, and hook stays for bracing the Pet of the step portionand said extension.

WILLIAM SCOTT SHIELDS.

W'itnesses J OSEPH E. HAMMELL, ELLSWORTH H. Vxxsorvnn.

